Measurement of the $\Lambda_c^+$ to $D^0$ production cross-section ratio in peripheral PbPb collisions

TL;DR

This paper measures the ratio of $\\Lambda_c^+$ to $D^0$ production in peripheral PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV, finding results consistent with pPb collisions and PYTHIA predictions, but not with the Statistical Hadronization model.

Contribution

First measurement of the $\Lambda_c^+$ to $D^0$ production ratio in peripheral PbPb collisions at LHC energies.

Findings

No significant dependence on $p_T$, $y$, or participant number.

Results align with pPb collision measurements.

Data agree with PYTHIA predictions but challenge the Statistical Hadronization model.

Abstract

We report on a measurement of the $\Lambda_c^+$ to $D^0$ production ratio in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$= 5.02 TeV with the LHCb detector in the forward rapidity region $2 <y< 4.5$. The $\Lambda_c^+$ ($D^0$) hadrons are reconstructed via the decay channel $\Lambda_c^+\rightarrow pK^+\pi^-$ ($D^0 \rightarrow K^-\pi^+$) for $2<p_{\rm T}<8$ GeV$/c$ and in the centrality range of about 65-90%. The results show no significant dependence on $p_{T}$, $y$ or the mean number of participating nucleons. They are also consistent with similar measurements obtained by the LHCb collaboration in pPb and Pbp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The data agree well with predictions from PYTHIA in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5 TeV but are in tension with predictions of the Statistical Hadronization model.